Versus MILFORD MARLINS
Saturday 21st April 2018 National Conference League Division 1
OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
£2
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE President Dave Corless Vice President Derek Cross Chairman Ralph Rawsthorne Vice Chairman Dave Roughley Club Secretary Billy Dillon 07879 662940 Treasurer Andy Lyons Youth & Junior Development Director Neil Belshaw Club Registration Manager Joanne Knapper Club Welfare Officer Gary Trueman 07816 509995 Discipline Chairman
Gary Philbin Junior Representative Brian Hatton School Liaison Manager Ste Edgerton Fundraising Managers Kevin Whittall
Sarah Whittall Player Representative Paul Cresswell
HONOURS BARLA National Cup Winners: 1974-75, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82 BARLA Lancashire Cup Winners: 1974:74, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1980-81 BARLA Inter County Cup Winners: 1980-81 North West Counties Premier Cup Winners: 2007-08, 2010-11, 2011-12 North West Counties Champions: 1977-78, 1979-80 North West Counties Div 1 Champions: 1975-76, 1985-86, 1991-92, 2004-05 Warrington & District League Champions: 1973-74 Warrington & District League Leaders: 1968-69 St.Helens Junior League Champions: 1953-54 St,Helens Junior League Leaders: 1951-52, 1953-54 St.Helens Cup Winners: 1980-81, 1985-86, 2010-11 West Lancs League Trophy Winners: 1953-54 Bootle Charity Cup Winners: 1953-54 BARLA John Players 7s Winners: 1982 Haresfinch 7s Winners: 2007 North West Counties Fair Play Award 2005/06
CONTACT US @pilksrecsarlfc /pilkingtonrecs www.pilkigntonrecs.org
CHAIRMANS WELCOME Good afternoon and welcome to Ruskin Drive for this National Conference League Division 1 game. It is my pleasure to welcome Milford Marlins and their supporters to our Club. We have had games against each other previously and they are always good encounters, I am sure that today’s game will provide the same spectacle of rugby league.
I would like to thank our hard working committee for their efforts in managing the Club business; our sponsors for their generous support of the Club at all age levels, your assistance is greatly appreciated. A big thanks for the players who put in the effort on the field week in and week out and the coaches and support staff for giving up their time to develop the sport. Finally to eveMilford are currently flying high in ryone for supporting the game the division having made a sound and applauding good rugby and please spare a thought for the start to the season and will be officials who do a sterling job in looking to build on this. Recs, managing the game. however, will no doubt be spurred on after shaking off their challenge Cup hangover and seCome on The RECS!! curing a well-deserved win last weekend against a determined York Acorn side. Yours in sport The game today should be entertaining for the spectators and I Ralph E hope everyone cheers on their Rawsthorne respective teams. •
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All spectators are requested to remain behind the pitch side spectator barriers Inside the ground perimeter fence is strictly a No Smoking Area at all times No dogs are allowed inside the ground Please use waste bins provided to dispose of your litter
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TODAY’S VISITORS Today we welcome the players, officials and supporters of the famous Milford Marlins, [did you see them on TV last week?] who have been an integral part of the amateur rugby league fabric of Leeds for a long while! Based at the Milford Sports Club, in Beecroft Street, Kirkstall, they have a thriving set up, consisting of two senior teams; juniors from Under 12s to Under 17s and a mini section from Under 8s to Under 11s. They have provided some famous names for the professional code and some, of course, well-known to Saints' fans, such as Ryan Bailey, Richie Mathers. Wakefield Trinity threequarter Ben JonesBishop also played for the Marlins before continuing his amateur career with Queens.
portant history. When BARLA became a reality, it was noticed that the best teams were spread out over several different leagues. In 1986-87, the National League was formed to rectify this situation. There were 27 original applications and ten were chosen. These were all from the northern heartland. Milford were joined by their Yorkshire rivals Dudley Hill, Heworth and West Hull; Egremont Rangers and Millom flew the flag for Cumbria and on this side of the Pennines, there were four: Pilkington Recreation, Wigan St. Pats, Woolston Rovers and Leigh Miners' Welfare. The following year, Milford Marlins were Champions of the National League.
of the Challenge Cup recently. The game was played on 'home turf' at Headingley, in front of over 1,000 fans and the Marlins were narrowly defeated 18-10 by the professional outfit, although on the day, the pro/ amateur divide was hardly in evidence. We have enjoyed some excellent encounters with the lads from Milford over the years. Who would have thought that natural grass pitches have disappeared too, at home base for both clubs these days. That’s progress! Needless to say we welcome those who have made the journey across from Leeds this afternoon and you are all cordially invited to have a refreshing drink after the match in the Ruskin Drive clubhouse, where the Man Perhaps another of the -of-the-Match celebrations Marlins' greatest achieve- will take place. Indeed, Recs and Milford ments was to push Barrow certainly share some im- so close in the third round
THINK YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY? Alex Service talks about different aspects of our club which was first formed in 1878!
Rufus and Kenny Gill were my teammates and they signed for Recs later that year.
One of the most celebrated past players at Pilkington Recs is undoubtedly former front-row legend Kenny Cross, who remains one of the club’s most fervent supporters. This afternoon we go back to 2008, when he gave us some of his thoughts about his extensive career in the amateur code. “If I wrote a book about my experiences in rugby league, it would be called Two New Knees and no Regrets whatsoever”, he says. Clearly he loved to play the Greatest Game and looks back at what he describes as “the best years of his life”.
Most memorable match? The Castleford cup tie was right up there, at Knowsley Road, when their winger, Fenton, scored just before half-time after Rufus had put the bomb up. Best player at Pilks? Sid Wright! He could change a game. Kevin [Whittle] wasn’t a bad ‘un…..there’s not much between them really. The two of them held the pack together.
When did you start out at Pilks? I started with Recs in 1970….but I didn’t play for twelve months because I had two pins in my knee. I came from Blackbrook. I played Under 19s there and then on to Recs. It was a big step then from under 19s to open Age and not many of us went through. I suppose at that age there were a few distractions for young lads! It was the start of the great team at Recs. Sid had just gone there… McCabe just a bit later…the basis of the team was there. Rufus [Hill] and Kenny Gill left ‘Brook also that season and went to City Road. Ironically, when I was 19…my first game at Open Age was for ‘Brook against Pilks!
For Pilks and Lancashire in the late 1970s. Kenny Cross has provided this image which will doubtless stir the memories today at Ruskin Drive. Back row: Kenny Cross, Peter Glover. Front row: Jeff Gormley, Andy Casey, John McCabe
COACHES CORNER So here we are again at Ruskin Drive for the seconf time in as many weeks.
unbeaten until last weekends defeat to their local rivals Oulton in the televised fixture, Those who watched will have Last week we saw a turnaround in league seen that the teams were still playing in fortunes as we picked up oou first win of tough ground conditions as the Oulton the season over a previously unbeaten pitch looked to still be recovering from the York Acorn team. terrible weather over the last 2 months. The results weren’t the only thing that Giving very little to pick out as a coach. was different that day as we enjoyed Like us, Milford enjoy the use of a 3G what is hopefully the first of many sumpitch so I am sure they will be a totally mer days that no doubt played it’s part in a very enjoyable game of rugby that was different team today and the spectators could be in for anither fast flowing game allowed to flow by the referee. Credit of rugby. must go to all the players and officialsf for creating such a game, Finally, whilst the 2nd Team were narrowly beaten last week at Halton Simms With the monkey off our backs, the lads will be looking to kick on and put a string Cross, the performances have been getof results together to put us in the league ting stronger each week and I am certain they will pick up more points soon. position we need to be in if we are to be challenging come the end of the season. ENJOY THE GAME Our opponents today, Milford, were also
PLAYER PROFILE Age CHRIS Height CLAYTON Joining from Haresfinch last season, it’s the newest member of the squad. What’s your first rugby memory? Playing at Pilks as a junior and my nickname was Rhino because I always scrunched my face up when I took the ball in.
24 6’ 2”
Weight
110kg
Debut
2017
NCL Games
12
NCL Tries
3
NCL Points
12
n/a
What’s your best rugby memory? It’s got to be winning the National Cup with Portico Panthers at U16s So you left us in search of glory then? No, not at all. The team I was in a s a junior folded because the coach left.
When was your open age debut? For Pilks? It was at Rochdale Mayfield away last year. It was horrible. They just wanted to take heads off. Who would you say is your best team mate at Pilks and why? I’d say Tez, you always know for a fact that he won’t let you down. Lynch is great as well, he’s always talking and helping you through the games. Who would you say is the laziest trainer? Can I say me? It’s me—everyone else is a lot fitter an works harder. I’m just a prop. Who is your weirdest team mate and why? It’s hard for me to pick because I’m so new, but I’d say it’s got to be Raz. He is just off his head. Who is your dream woman? My missus……...I had to say that then. Really though it’s Holly Willoughby. She’s just f*****g stunning. She’s competitive, she would do literally ANYTHING to win. I love that.
THINK YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY? We had different people coaching and training us, but we did what we had to do. Todder [Dickinson] was there when I started….but we had Austin Gillen who got us fit. When Jackie Pimblett died, it got us all together….the birth of our success. When I first played there was Dave Hull in the centre, who went to Saints…you forget how many good lads there were at City Road. Sid could have signed on professional terms to a number of clubs and
Casey and Joey Hull. Most respected opponents? Paul Dowling of Leigh Miners….a good servant to RL all-round and captain of Great Britain; he played a long time and looked a lot older than he really was. Then there was Johnny and Peter Lowe of Crosfields, Stan Fisher and Keith Chadwick of Crossfields, all great players in their own right. Representative-wise the games against Yorkshire were always tough…they had more players to pick from. Any downsides?
I remember having a meeting in the dressing room in the early seventies…’we can’t afford this etc’ One idea was to scrap the Second Team which would have been a backward idea straightaway. It had only been running for a few years, but it kept squad members happy because they could play. I always used to come back through the second team, when my knees Sid Wright, a Pilks all-time great, lifts the got a battering! Our routine was like, one silverware night working and one night training. It wouldn’t go. He didn’t say a lot, to tell the was difficult with shift work, because the truth. He didn’t like a lot of fuss. He never lads at Triplex…Bob Bolan, Sid, John [Forster], Rufus….they’d train on one or moaned or groaned…just got on with it. You would never hear him say ‘I wish this two mornings at Ruskin Drive, rather than or that.’ Other people talked about his abil- Tuesday or Thursday nights. Difficult ity, but he would never do that. We called times for sure. Mind you, Pilks remains a him The Quiet Man. He never goes round great club and there have been so many saying ‘I could have been this or that.’ He lads prepared to give up their time after they have finished playing to put somedid his own thing and that’s it. Billy Simthing back into the club with coaching and mons was a terrific player, who played a administration. Without that you simply long time. He wouldn’t back down from cannot exist! anyone, any size! A little tough nut. We had some good lads on the wing…Andy
A TEAM FIXTURES Date
Comp
Home Or Away Home Home
Opponents
Result
Thatto Heath B Eccleston Lions
8 - 22 L P-P
3rd February-18 10th February-18
Friendly Friendly
3rd March-18 10th March-18 17th March-17 24th March-18 31st March-18
League League League League
7th April-18 14th April-18 21st April-18 28th April-18
League League League League
Away Away Away Home
Rochdale Mayfield A Halton Simms Cross Latchford Albion Widnes Tigers
5th May-18 12th May-18 19th May-18 26th May-18
League League
Home Away
Haresfinch Hindpool Tigers
League
Home
Leigh Miners Rangers A
2nd June-18 9th June-18 16th June-18 23rd June-18 30th June-18
League League League
Away Home Home
Wigan St Patricks A Walney Central Rochdale Mayfield A
League
Away
Widnes Tigers
7th July-18 14th July-18 21st July-18 28th August-18
League
Home
Simms Cross
4th August-18 11th August-18 18th August-18 25th August-18 1st September-18 8th September-18 15th September-18 22nd September-18 29th September-18
Home Wigan St Patricks A Away Walney Central Away Leigh Miners Rangers A Home HIndpool Tigers Easter Weekend
Nines Comp Nines Comp Challenge Cup Weekend League League
Away Home
Haresfinch Latchford Albion
14 - 36 L 42 - 6 L 10 - 46 L 40 - 20 W
A-A 30 - 26 L P– P
1st TEAM FIXTURES Date
Comp
Opponents
Result
C/Cup C/Cup C/Cup
Home Or Away Away Home Home
27th January-18 10th February-18 24th February-18 3rd March-18 10th March-18
Wallsend Eagles Thornhill Trojans Millom
6 - 42 W 16 - 0 W 32-16 W
League
Away
Leigh Miners Rangers
24 - 8 L
Ince Rose Bridge Coventry Bears
P-P 31 - 20 L
32 - 20 L 30 - 18 W
17th March-17 25th March-18 31st March-18
League C/Cup
Home Away Easter Weekend
7th April-18 14th April-18 21st April-18 28th April-18
League League League League
Away Home Home Away
Featherstone Lions York Acorn Milford Marlins Oulton Raiders
5th May-18 12th May-18 19th May-18 26th March-18
League League
Away Away
Thornhill Trojans Lock Lane
2nd June-18 9th June-18 16th June-18 23rd June-18 30th June-18
League League League
Home Away Home
Bradford Dudley Hill Shaw Cross Sharks Thornhill Trojans
League
Home
Skirlaugh
7th July-18 14th July-18 21st July-18 28th July-18
League League League League
Away Home Home Away
Milford Marlins Lock Lane Oulton Raiders Skirlaugh
4th August-18 11th August-18 18th August-18 25th August-18
League League League
1st September-18 8th September-18 15th September-18 22nd September-18 29th September-18
League League League
Away York Acorn Home Shaw Cross Sharks Away Bradford Dudley Hill Challenge Cup Weekend Home Away Home
Featherstone Lions Ince Rose Bridge Leigh Miners Rangers
PILKINGTON RECS
MILFORD MARLINS
1.
Ryan Hilliard
1.
Josh Cawood
2.
Kyran Knapper
2.
Elliot Watmough
3.
Jon Frodsham
3.
Steve Bacon
4.
Ian Stanley
4.
Josh Nathaniel
5.
Jake Hodson
5.
Matt Brocksom
6.
Tom Roughley
6.
Martin Loveridge
7.
Danny Lynch
7.
Jacob Skinner
8.
Chris Clayton
8.
Joe Ramsden
9.
Ryan Liptrot
9.
Zak Snellgrove
10.
Mike Garrity
10.
John Elkington
11.
Tez Riley
11.
Andy Barker
12.
Luke Riley
12.
Dwaine McCrea
13.
Jamie Smith
13.
James Barker
14.
Ryan Stevens
14.
Josh Parle
15.
Jono Peers
15.
Dave Warren
16.
Chris Smith
16.
Dave Watmough
17.
Ben Gravener
17.
Eddie Wilson
Coaches John Rees Liam Bostock Ste Edgerton Physio Gary Trueman
Officials Sebastian Chromiak Matthew Charnock Mackenzie Maddison
Coaches Adam Hayes Mick Loveday Physio Paul Ramsden